Connect with Us

EDITORIAL | Council should pick best person for the position

Port Orchard city councilmembers will spend many hours today interviewing 10 applicants to fill the District 1 vacancy left on the council by Jim Colebank, who resigned last month.

Judging by the letter of interests presented to the city, the council has several people with interesting background and résumés.

To the council, I would say, “Pick the best candidate, not your friend or political ally. Select the best man or woman who has the most to bring to the council.”

The city is facing some tough choices in the future with increasing population, creating revenue, budgets, providing public services and others.

Remember, the newly appointed councilmember will help make decisions that will affect the city and its residents, along with policies.

Among the applicants are people of all ages with college degrees, those who are active in the community, those active in civic groups and organizations, those with business experience in the profit and non-profit sectors and those with work or military experience.

Some have lived in the city for long periods of time, some a few years.

Seven of the 10 are women, so the chances for another female councilmember on the male-dominated group are pretty good.

Really, what the city needs is a person with vision, energy, integrity, passion and who can be a team player. Actually, the city needs someone who sees the “bigger picture” and not just about their political ambitions.

Legendary college football coach Paul Bear Bryant once said, “In order to have a winner, the team must have a feeling of unity; every player must put the team first ahead of personal glory.”

Pick the best team player that can help the council, not the “glory hog” who is looking out for him or herself.

We encourage an open exchange of ideas on this story's topic, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. Personal attacks, inappropriate language, and off-topic comments may be removed, and comment privileges revoked, per our Terms of Use. Please see our FAQ if you have questions or concerns about using Facebook to comment.